Us

Trapped

Maine had difficulty sleeping but she knew she had to force herself. She was exhausted already but her mind was still racing. Eventually, she fell asleep in tears.
She woke up at around 10 o'clock the following morning as the sun filtered through the window shade. She hurriedly prepared herself, grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter and headed for the hospital.

As she was approaching the door to RJ's room, she heard screaming and crying. The voice was deep and low, and very familiar. She rushed into Rj's room and found a stressed looking April trying to hold RJ down as he thrashed on the bed. An orderly was also holding his shoulders.  There was a nurse who was adjusting his IV line and Mama Ten was holding on to his feet at the foot of the bed. Rj was screaming and kicking.

"Aaaaarrrgggghhhhhhh!!" He screamed.

"RJ! Tama na yan! Mama Ten said as she struggled to hold his feet.

"RJ! Love!" Maine said loudly, rushing to his side.

She approached, took down the side railing, sat down and cupped his sweaty face in her hands.

"Shhh....calm down, love. It's okay...you're okay...shhhhh" Maine said as she held his face.  He slowly calmed down when he realized who it was.  He was breathing heavily as tears streaked his face.  Maine kept one hand on his cheek while the other one gently stroked his face and wiped his tears. "Shhh...." she said repeatedly until Rj's breathing steadied and he relaxed.

April and the orderly let go as Maine sat beside him on the bed gently so as not to cause too much movement. Rj winced a little then sobbed.  He was disoriented, looking around.

"Anong nangyari?" He tried to move his hands but they were tied. "Ano to?" he asked, a frown suddenly forming. He looked at Maine for help.

"Calm down, love" Maine said as she gently removed the bindings and held his free hand.

"Naaksidente kayo kahapon..." she started.

"But you're fine now..." April seconded.

"Paano yung show...?"

"Shhh...everything's been taken cared of...rest up, Love"

"Pero..."

"You need to rest, Love. Everything will be alright..."

They told him the extent of his injuries. He would wince or shout and  tear up whenever someone tried to touch him. It was only Maine who could comfort him and calm him down. 

"Ayoko na dito" he began after one of his dressing changes on the 3rd day after the accident.

"Love, uwi na tayo" he pouted as tears streamed down his face like a little boy.

"Awww Baby ko. Tahan na" she said as Maine folded the last of the towels to put in the bedside cupboard while the nurse dressed his wounds.

She sat by his side and stroked his head. "Di pa pwede, Love...sabi ni Doc, in about 3 more days pa..they need to run a few more tests, diba?"

"Pero I feel trapped here. I'm bored and helpless. Ni pag-CR di ko magawa...... Ayoko ng feeling na 'to!"

"I know. I know. Just rest muna, Love. You need it"

"Ikaw rin, Love. Rest ka rin..."

"Nakakatulog naman ako dun sa kabilang bed pag natutulog ka, e..."

"Sure ka?"

She smiled and nodded, "Oo naman.." She was lying, of course. She was worried about him that she'd forgotten to eat and one time, Pat found her a bit confused and disoriented due to hunger. While RJ slept, she had a little emergency herself. She was treated by the doctors and was told to take it easy and rest, too.